Christmas In The Trenches Guitar Chords And Lyrics

The sheet music and an mp3 is included. Written by (John McCutcheon) music timing 4/4 , guitar work by Marc. This Christmas song was born out of the first world war when German and British soldiers called an unofficial truce for a few days at Christmas. There are many songs dealing with this period and this one is about a young man from Liverpool in England who ends up in France fighting for king and country. In the middle of the battle a silence hung over the battlefield and German and British troops exchanged gifts and sang Christmas songs.The singer in the youtube video is the songwriter John McCutcheon.

My (D)name is Francis (Bm)Tolliver. I (G)come from Liver(Em)pool.Two (A)years ago the war was waiting (G)for me after (D)school.To Belgium and to (Bm)Flanders, to (G)Germany to (Em)here,I (A)fought for King and country I love (D)dear.It was (A)Christmas in the trenches where the (G)frost so bitter (D)hung.The (Bm)frozen fields of (F#m)France were still, no (G)Christmas song was (A)sung.Our (D)families back in (Bm)England were (G)toasting us that (Em)day,Their (A)brave and glorious lads so far a(D)way.

I was (D)lyin' with my (Bm)mess-mate on the (G)cold and rocky (Em)groundWhen a(A)cross the lines of battle came a (G)most peculiar (D)sound.Says I "Now listen (Bm)up me boy", each (G)soldier strained to (Em)hearAs (A)one young German voice sang out so (D)clear."He's (A)singin' bloody well you know", my (G)partner says to (D)me.Soon (Bm)one by one each (F#m)German voice (G)joined in in harmo(A)ny.The (D)cannons rested (Bm)silent. The (G)gas cloud rolled no (Em)moreAs (A)Christmas brought us respite from the (D)war.

As (D)soon as they were (Bm)finished a (G)reverent pause was (Em)spent.'God (A)rest ye merry ,gentlemen' struck (G)up some lads from (D)Kent.The next they sang was (Bm)'Stille Nacht". "T’is (G)'Silent Night'" says (Em)IAnd (A)in two toungues one song filled up that (D)sky."There's (A)someone commin' towards us" the (G) front-line sentry (D)cried.All (Bm)sights were fixed on (F#m)one lone figure (G)trudging from their (A)side.His (D)truce flag, like a (Bm)Christmas star, shone (G)on that plain so (Em)brightAs he (A)bravely strode, unarmed, into the (D)night.

Then (D)one by one on (Bm)either side walked (G)into no-mans-(Em)landWith (A)neither gun nor bayonet we (G)met there hand to (D)hand.We shared some secret (Bm)brandy and (G)wished each other (Em)wellAnd in a (A)flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em (D)hell.We (A)traded chocolates, cigarettes and (G)photographs from (D)homeThese (Bm)sons and fathers (F#m)far away from (G)families of their (A)own.Young (D)Sanders played his (Bm)squeeze box and they (G)had a vio(Em)linThis (A)curious and unlikely band of (D)men.

Instrumental Bridge (Air of ‘The Minstrel Boy’)D-Bm-D-G D-Bm-A-D

Soon (D)daylight stole u(Bm)pon us and (G)France was France once (Em)more.With (A)sad farewells we each began to (G)settle back to (D)war.But the question haunted (Bm)every heart that (G)lived that wonderous (Em)night"Whose (A)family have I fixed within my (D)sights?"It was (A)Christmas in the trenches where the (G)frost so bitter (D)hung.The (Bm)frozen fields of (F#m)France were warmed as (G)songs of peace were (A)sung.For the (D)walls they'd kept bet(Bm)ween us to e(G)xact the work of (Em)warHad been (A)crumbled and were gone forever (D)more.

D-G-Em-F#m Em-A-A7-DMy (D)name is Francis (Bm)Tolliver. In (G)Liverpool I (Em)dwell.Each (A)Christmas come since World War One I've (G)learned it's lessons (D)well.That the ones who call the (Bm)shots won't be a(G)mong the dead and (Em)lameAnd on (A)each end of the rifle we're the (D)same.

Instrumental Bridge D-Bm-D-G D-Bm-A-DD-G-Em-F#m Em-A-A7-D

My name is Francis Tolliver. I come from Liverpool.

Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.

To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here,

I fought for King and country I love dear.

It was Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung.

The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung.

Our families back in England were toasting us that day,

Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lyin' with my mess-mate on the cold and rocky ground

When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound.

Says I "Now listen up me boy", each soldier strained to hear

As one young German voice sang out so clear.

"He's singin' bloody well you know", my partner says to me.

Soon one by one each German voice joined in in harmony.

The cannons rested silent. The gas cloud rolled no more

As Christmas brought us respite from the war.

As soon as they were finished a reverent pause was spent.

'God rest ye merry ,gentlemen' struck up some lads from Kent.

The next they sang was 'Stille Nacht". "T’is 'Silent Night'" says I

And in two toungues one song filled up that sky.

"There's someone commin' towards us" the front-line sentry cried.

All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side.

His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shone on that plain so bright

As he bravely strode, unarmed, into the night.

Then one by one on either side walked into no-mans-land

With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand.

We shared some secret brandy and wished each other well

And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell.

We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home

These sons and fathers far away from families of their own.

Young Sanders played his squeeze box and they had a violin

This curious and unlikely band of men.

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more.

With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war.

But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night

"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"

It was Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung.

The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung.

For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war

Had been crumbled and were gone forever more.

My name is Francis Tolliver. In Liverpool I dwell.

Each Christmas come since World War One I've learned it's lessons well.